Metal awning



H. M. HELT METAL AWNING July 6, 1954 Filed Sept. 30, 1949 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL AWNING Application September 30, 1949, Serial No. 118,920

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to metal awnings, and, more particularly, to improved fastening structure for securing the metal roofing elements of the awning in position on a supporting structure.

More specifically, this invention relates to fastening structure of the type shown in the copending applications of Meyer Harrison and Samuel B. Kcrman, Serial No. 635,214, filed December id, 1945, now Patent No. 2,562,092 issued July 24, 1951, and of Herbert M. Helt, Serial No. 659,349, filed April 3, 1946, now Patent No. 2,598,691 issued June 3, 1952, to which reference is hereby made. The fastening structure of this invention embodies features common to the inventions covereeL by the said copending applications.

In awnings of the type with which this invention is concerned, there is generally provided a sloping roof section or panel in which the roofing elements are comprised of upper and lower series of spaced and alternately reversed light sheet metal channels. In the lower series, the channels have webs provided with flanges extending upwardly from the edges thereof to form troughlike structures which are commonly ref-erred to in the art as pans. The pans are spaced at regular intervals from one another. Spanning the openings between the pans and overlapping the up-turned flanges are the inverted channels of the upper series which are referred to in the art as covers. The covers are in vertically spaced relation to the pans to provide ventilation so that air immediately under the awning which is warmed by contact with the roof surface of the awning may escape from under the awning. At the same time, the overlapping of the flanges on the covers and the pans prevents the direct rays of the sun from enterin the space between the covers and the pans, even when the rays are slanting at a considerable angle, and prevents the wind-driven rain and snow from traveling through such space and thus to the area underneath the awning.

In the above mentioned applications, the depending flanges on the upper series channels or covers are provided with inwardl extending lips for interlocking engagement with fastening elements secured to a supporting frame structure. The interlock between the flange lips and fastening elements operates to secure the upper channels to the supporting frame structure with their webs in a plane spaced from the webs of the lower channels. In addition, the fastening elements operate to secure the lower channels to the supporting frame structure. In my earlier filed copending application, the fastening elements are positioned to one side of the lower 2 channels and engage with the upper edges of their upwardly extending flanges to secur the lower channels in position, and have an interlocking part extending inwardly for interlocking interlocking part having a sloping surface for camming the lip or the upper channel to a position in which it can move into interlocking engagement with such interlocking part.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement of fastening structure for securing the roofing elements of a metal awning in position on a supporting framework, and in which the fastening structure is formed integrally with and from the material of a sheet metal channel forming a part of the supporting frame structure. To this end, the fastening element employed to secure the roofing elements in position are punched out of a flange in the channel forming a part of the supporting frame structure. The fastening element punched out of the channel frame flange is provided with a strip which is integrally connected to and bent at right angles to the flange from which it is formed. The end of the strip is provided with an interlocking element which has engagement over the up-turned flange on the lower channel elements of the roof structure to secure the lower channel elements in position on the supporting frame structure, and an interlocking part for interlocking engagement with the upper channels forming a part of the roofing structure for securing the upper channels to the supporting frame structure. The channel engaging fastening parts of the fastening structure embody features common to those disclosed in the above mentioned copending applications.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a roof structure corresponding to this invention and illustrating in elevation the improved fastening device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a frame supporting channel illustrating the manner in which the fastening elements are cut from the material of the supporting channel;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line IV--IV of Fig. 3

F g. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally and centrally of one of the lower channels; and

F 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VI-VI of Fig. illustrating a plurality of alternately and reversely arranged channels forming part of a roof covering.

In the drawings, the roof structure, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, comprises a plurality of alternately and reversely arranged upper and lower channels I and 2 mounted in position on a transversely extending runner or channel frame 3 of a supporting framework. The lower channels 2 are commonly referred to in the art as pans or troughs, and the upper channels i are commonly referred to as covers. The upper channels 1 have depending flanges 4 along each edge thereof which are provided with inwardly extending lips 5 spaced from the channel web. The channels l, in a manner to be described, are secured to the frame channels 3 by fastening elements indicated as a whole by the numeral 6 which, in addition, operate to space the lower channels 2 from each other. The lower channels 2, identical in structure to the upper channels I, are provided with upwardly extending flanges i and inwardly turned lips 8 spaced from the channel web. The lower channels 2 are also secured to the supporting channel frame 3 by the fastening elements 6 in a manner to be described. The

channels I and 2 are mounted in position in such manner that their webs are in spaced parallel planes and the channels I constitute a cover for the space between the channels 2. The oppositely projecting flanges 4 and 1 function as a battle by which hot air under the channels I may escape or pass to the space over the channels '2. In addition, the baffle arrangement of the oppositely projecting flanges 4 and l is operable to prevent rain and snow and direct rays of sunlight from entering the space under the upper channels i.

The manner in which the fastening elements 6 are formed is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. From this showing, it will be noted that the channel frame 3 is formed from sheet metal and has a top flange ii] on which the webs of the lower channels 2 have supporting engagement. The fastening elements 6 are punched out of or cut from the metal of the flange it], and the numeral H in Fig. 3 indicates the shape of the opening in the flange If} after the fastening element 8 has been cut therefrom. The shape of the fastening elements 6 is best illustrated in Fig. l, and, from this showing, it will be noted that the fastening element 6 comprises a connecting strip l2 and a fastening head IS. The connecting strip l2 has an integral connection at its base i l with the material of the flange iii. The strip l2 has a right angle bend at its point of connection with the flange I4 so that it extends in a plane normal to the plane of the flange ii]. The fastening head i3 is rounded as at to provide a camming action in a manner to be described and has a tip l6 over which the inwardly turned lips 5 of the upper channels I are adapted to interlock in a manner to be described. The upper end of the fastening element 6 is flat as at i! so that it may have abutting engagement with the undersurface of the web i. The underportion of the connecting part i3 is cut away as along the inclined surface l8 to provide a notch for the reception of the inwardly turned lips 3 at the upper edges of the upturned flanges l. The material of the flange I0 is cut away, as indicated by the rectangular portion IQ of the opening ll, to provide a tongue 20 which is integral with the material of the fastening elements 6. The tongue 20 is initially bent outwardly at right angles to the fastening elements '6 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Vlflien a lower channel 2 is inserted in position with its lip 8 in the notch provided in the under portion of the fastening part 13, the tongue 2% is moved downwardly by a bending action into jamming engagement with the lip 8, and the tongue 20 is thus operative to clamp the lower channels 2 in position with their webs resting flat against the flange 5a of the channel frame 3.

In operation, an awning or roofing structure is constructed by first securing the channel frames 3 in position. These channel frames have the fastening elements 6 cut from the flange Ill at spaced intervals, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The lower channels 2 are then moved endwise by a sliding action into position with the outer surfaces of the upturned flanges 1 adjacent a side surface of the connecting strip I2, and their inwardly turned lips in the notch under the tongue 29. The tongues 20 are then bent downwardly to a jammed position against the upper surface of the inwardly turned lips 8 to hold the lower channels 2 in supporting engagement with a channel flange I8.

As soon as the lower channels 2 are in position, the upper channels 1 are ready to be applied. The upper channels i are applied by first placing them with the inwardly turned lips 5 engaged with the rounded surfaces [5. The channels i are then forced inwardly toward the channel frame 3 and the lips 5 are cannned outwardly by the rounded surface 15 so that they may move downwardly to a position in which they may move inwardly to interlock over the tips l5 of the fastening elements 13. The interlocking engagement of the lips 5 over the tips it takes place at the time the under surface of the web of the channel engages with the flat surface ll on the fastening element 13. In this manner, the fastening element 13 will be interlocked between the lip 5 and the web of the upper channel I.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention enables the fabrication of a metal awning entirely from sheet metal. It will be noted that the formation of the fastening element 6 integrally from the metal of the channel flange it) results in the formation of the fastening element from sheet metal. The fastening elements being integral with the channel frames 3 are supplied with the channel frames 3 and may be moved into their operative positions by a simple bending action which may be performed at the site of installation.

While I have illustrated and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a roof structure of the class described, a sheet metal runner having a supporting flange to which the roof is attached, roof channels having normal upwardly extending flanges resting on the runner flange and fastening members formed of and integral with the runner flange at spaced points to engage the flanges of the roof channels, said fastening member being composed of strips extending substantially normal to the runner flange, fastening heads at the top of and extend.-

ing outwardly from the strips, the under side of the heads being spaced a sufiicient distance from the runner flange to engage the tops of the channel flanges.

2. The roof structure defined in claim 1 in which the fastening members have notches in the under side of the heads to receive the channel flanges.

3. A roof structure comprising a supporting runner channel and a roof surface thereon formed of sheet metal channels having normal upwardly extending flanges, the runner channel having a flange with a series of fastening elements integral therewith, each element composed of a strip substantially normal to the runner flange with a head at the top of the strip shaped to make a hooked interlocking connection with a flange of an upwardly extending channel flange.

4. A roof structure comprising supporting runner channels and a roof surface supported on the runners composed of upper and lower metal channels having normally extending flanges at each side of the channels, said lower channels being spaced apart and engaging flanges of the runner channel and fastening elements formed of and integral with the runner flanges, said elements extending substantially normal to the runner flanges and composed of strips and heads at the top of the strips to engage flanges of the lower channels to space and lock the lower channels on the runner flange, and the flanges of the upper channels engaging the element heads to hold the upper channels in position on the roof.

5. In a roof structure of the class described, a sheet metal runner having a supporting flange to which the roof is attached, roof channels having normal upwardly extending flanges resting on the runner flange and fastening members formed of an integral with the runner flange at spaced points to engage the flanges of the roof channels, said fastening members being composed of strips extending substantially normal to the runner flange, fastening heads at the top of and extending outwardly from the strips, a tongue integral with each element head extending downwardly at an angle to the side of the head to yieldingly engage a flange of the roof channel to press the lower channel against the runner flange.

6. In a roof structure of the class described, a sheet metal runner having a supporting flange to which the roof is attached, roof channels having normal upwardly extending flanges resting on the runner flange and fastening members formed of and integral with the runner flange at spaced points to engage the flanges of the roof channels, said fastening member being composed of strips extending substantially normal to the runner flange, fastening heads at the top of and extending outwardly from the strips, the bottom of each head having elongated slits therein to form a tongue, said tongue extending outwardly at the side of the head to form a notch to receive the upstanding flange of a roof channel and the bottom of said tongue being spaced from the runner flange to yieldingly engage the top of the channel flange.

7. A roof structure comprising supporting runner channels, a roof surface including a series of spaced lower channels, a series of upper channels mounted above the spaces between the lower channels, said lower channels each having a web with flanges extending upwardly from the edges thereof, said runners including a sheet metal flange in supporting engagement with the webs of said lower channels, and fastening elements integral with the material of said runner flanges, said fastening elements being composed of a strip and a head extending upwardly substantially normal to the runner flange and arranged longitudinally of the flange, said elements being spaced in the runner flange so that the heads extend over and engage the lower channel flanges to hold the lower channels in position.

8. The roof structure defined in claim 7 in which the webs of the upper channels rest upon element heads and inwardly projecting lips at the bottoms of the downwardly projecting flanges of the upper channels lockingly engage the bottoms of the heads.

9. A roof structure comprising supporting run ner channels, a lower series of spaced channels having webs with upwardly turned flanges along the edges thereof, an upper series of channels overlapping the lower series, the upper channels having webs with downwardly turned flanges along the edges thereof and inwardly turned lips at the edges of the downwardly turned flanges, said runner channels having sheet metal flanges on which the webs of said lower channels have supporting engagement and fastening elements integral with the runner flanges, said elements each having a bend therein at their points of connection with runner flanges so that they extend normal to the plane of said runner flanges each of said elements having a head extending over and engaged with the upper edge of each of said upturned flanges to hold the lower channels against said runner flanges, and the webs of the upper channels resting on said heads with the inwardly turned lips locked below said heads to secure the upper channels to said runner channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,975 Houseman Jan. 10, 1939 511,775 Holzbach Jan. 2, 1894 734,275 Lyon July 21, 1903 1,571,981 Vail Feb. 9, 1926 1,674,210 Loucks June 19, 1928 1,770,063 Bloss et al. July 8, 1930 2,442,891 Harrisonet a1 June 8, 1948 2,484,987 Eschrich Oct. 18, 1949 2,503,136 Simpson Apr. 4, 1950 2,542,919 Freeman Feb. 20, 1951 

